What do you attribute this to? Are members going to other forums? Are they just getting tired of the internet? Or are you saying that there are fewer people who sail?

I'm not quite sure why!maybe because sailing can be quite physical and even I don't look forward to spending as much time on my boat as I once did,old age is a bitzh lol also the truth is as most people get older they also get crankier/grumpier,I know that the older i get the less social I am.as for numbers I don't think there are fewer sailors just younger [old sailors never die they just spin yarns from the comforts of home]

As to moving this to Off Topic .... personally I'm not sure but only because in Off Topic lots of you won't see it. Otoh, I acknowledge it has absolutely nothing to do with sailing so it probably doesn't belong here either. So we'll move it for now to Announcements and Suggestions. If any of you are overly narked about that then send me a PM.

That that paragraph is necessary is one of the things that irks me about SN (not a lot, cause not much in life does). It's just not that big of a deal where it's at, and why anyone would go to the trouble to even think about it being in the wrong place, much less typing a post about it, to me, is a sad misuse of time. But if it's that big of a deal to so many people, start a bloody "Hey, I'm leaving" forum.

Something that seems to get forgotten all too easily is that this is a SOCIAL site, as well as an information sharing site. A Community, filled with all kinds of people who have all kinds of interests besides sailing, BUT, prefer to spend their time here, then elsewhere. There's more than ample provision made for those who don't wish to be sullied by topics that aren't strictly sailing, so that they can avoid even seeing the threads. So give it a rest.

Correction: ... prefer to spend their time here ... should say ... prefer to spend their online time here ...

I personally also hate to see any member leave, but especially members with sailing experience and a willingness to pass along the wisdom learned through experience to others. But in reality, I have been on SailNet since around 1996 and have watched as members have come, contributed and then moved on. And in most cases, it has been sad to lose a valued member, and the some of the discussions have been somewhat diminished by the loss, but in all cases it has not been a tragedy in terms of the long term viability or vitality of SailNet; And, after all this is the internet and not real life.

To be frank, while lately there has a lot of discussion about decamping long term members, I do not believe that we are losing any more long-term contributers than we typically lose. What does seem to distinguish this period more than anything else is that many of these members have written valedictory posts on their way out. And the ensuing discussions have allowed fellow members to examine and comment on why they have chosen to come to SailNet vs. other sites, or vs. not even spending as much time online.

And in reading the comments, both public and private, based on members taking the time to reflect on their time spent on SailNet, some have chosen to take their departure while others have become more aware of how much they value being here. But also some have tried to provide constructive commentary about how Sailnet could or should be made better. While some of these suggestions imply potential actions which the moderators are considering, most are commenting on the actions of the members themselves.

Which gets to the heart of the matter. SailNet is only as fulfilling as its members make it. The best we, as moderators can do is provide a place where civil discourse can take place and to correct dangerously grossly inaccurate statements when we see them. In the end it is the quality of the members and the quality of the discourse that will make SailNet the kind of place that attracts new members and retain old ones. But no matter how good the discourse, there will always be some valued members leaving, and hopefully equally valued members filling thier shoes.

Lastly I have moved this thread to Announcements and Suggestions because it is not a sailing related discussion and not to hide the discussion.

Personally, I blame WingNWing for all of this. SHe's always so nice, has lots of great answers, is supportive, gets together with SN members off the board, etc. ... Just watch, next she'll tell you she doesn't have two grills on her boat. I am just counting the days...

He's totally saying this 'cuz he's flattered that we took his suggestion to get a grill for our boat before heading off to the Bahamas. That grill earned us a lot of friends, he's right about that. See, we never used it, so we had all these surplus 1-lb propane cans. They commanded a very high price in trade items when a bunch of us were stuck in the Exumas by winter storms

Seriously, though, I'm liking the analogy of Sailnet being like the neighborhood bar in a harbor town - a lot of bluster, some colorful characters you can really learn from, some to watch out for, some days its fun, some days its sketchy. Pass the rum, please.

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He's totally saying this 'cuz he's flattered that we took his suggestion to get a grill for our boat before heading off to the Bahamas. That grill earned us a lot of friends, he's right about that. See, we never used it, so we had all these surplus 1-lb propane cans. They commanded a very high price in trade items when a bunch of us were stuck in the Exumas by winter storms

Seriously, though, I'm liking the analogy of Sailnet being like the neighborhood bar in a harbor town - a lot of bluster, some colorful characters you can really learn from, some to watch out for, some days its fun, some days its sketchy. Pass the rum, please.

HA! A well used grill is the sign of an exceptional sailor. Now, about those bottles? Got any left??? (snicker).

I'll stay! Someone has to stick around to impart priceless wisdom about a truly great line of boats. Plus I'm really cool. And smart too. Who wouldn't want to read my pearls of bilge water?

Is it pompous if I post a "I'm going to stay" post?

I really crack myself up......that makes one of us....

You bought a Catalina??? Was wondering when you would come around. I haver no prob, given your awesome contributions here, to changing your name to CatalinaMan. Want me to go ahead and make the change??

maybe because sailing can be quite physical and even I don't look forward to spending as much time on my boat as I once did

What type of sailboat do you have?

Quote:

as for numbers I don't think there are fewer sailors just younger

This is doubtful.

The more people I talk to the more confirmation I have about what I've already said. Just a few days ago someone was saying that he had been sailing less on Lake Wawasee because it took so long to set up his catamaran. Sailing in Indiana is not an everyday event because the wind is not good everyday. On days when the wind is good you want to be able to set up quickly and get to sailing. I've yet to hear from anyone that boats should be larger or more complex. Of course it isn't just Indiana; most of the country has the same problem. I think the simple fact is that people have disconnected from basic, recreational sailing. People on here seem embarrassed (even hostile) at the idea of getting a smaller, simpler boat. It's like the men here judge their manhood by the height of their mast.

Honestly, I am not sure why the rant. If you want to leave then leave, but sorry to see ya go. I sincerely hope nothing I did offended. Sometimes tone is read differently, keep that in mind.

A coup? on a board? really, what would it look like? I digress.

I find it absolutely cool that some of the great sailboat builders of our time still post and drop in here. It doesn't get any more authoritative than the builders themselves!

Also I think sailnet represents all aspects of sailing from racing, to cruising, to trailering. I don't do any one of the above exclusively, I enjoy ALL 3 in one boat go figure! Perhaps the racers and McMansion luxury yacht owners are louder than others? I dunno, I don't think they are overrepresented either way.

Is my piddly little 25 footer laughed at by those with "big masts?" Perhaps it is, but for some things smaller is better Don't worry I always try to convince myself of that, I have to.

Seriously. It's a online board. The posts are worth what you paid for them. Some just fill the gap between being able to get out sailing. Some are priceless for help in fixing problems others have already addressed.

Sailnet is still my first stop for help when I have a problem with my boat, I look to see how others have addressed it, doesn't make their way the best way, just A way.

Leave if you must. If it's to sail, well DUH nobody expects you to post INSTEAD of sailing. Not many of us here would post over sailing.

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